Forgiving himself was this superhero’s toughest fight

He was cleared of any fault in the accident, but still couldn’t forgive himself for what happened to the little boy.
Humankind, USA TODAY

Shamus Smith, dressed as Lansing Batman, left, holds 5-year-old Vincent Gentile while guests sing him happy birthday during his birthday party on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer.(Photo11: Nick King/Lansing State Journal)

While that may sound ordinary, it’s not. The boy, Vincent Gentile of Delta Township, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of eye cancer three days after his mother noticed a white glow in his eye while taking his photo. He was 3. It was his first day of preschool.

In fact, they showed up live for his fifth birthday party. Cosplayers dressed as Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America, Spider-Man, Robin, Red Hood and the Scarlet Witch attended in full superhero costumes.

They’re all part of a new group called the League of Enchantment. The League formed last fall, when several friends who liked to portray Disneyesque princesses joined Smith and others who portray Marvel and D.C. comics superheroes. It just received its nonprofit status.

Members of the League of Enchantment stand by while kids eat pizza during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. The boy is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer.(Photo11: Nick King/Lansing State Journal)

The group of about 20 adults and teens focuses on helping sick kids and other good causes. Events range from reading at schools to helping with fundraisers.

The group is led by Lansing Batman, portrayed by Shamus Smith, a father of five from Rives Junction.

At Vincent's party, Smith, a slight, fit man in jeans and a leather jacket transformed from mild mannered to imposing and powerful as he put on his professional grade costume. He’s a 5-foot 8-inch Lansing flooring store manager by day, who rises to nearly 6 feet tall when wearing Batman’s cowl and shoe lifts.

As Batman, he rarely smiles because Batman is stoic, watching all that goes on around him.

The League cosplayers, the word that's used for those who play characters and wear costumes, aren’t paid. In fact, they often foot their own expenses for their appearances around the state.

While the League works to inspire joy, the origin of the group is rooted in pain.

In 2015, Smith said he couldn’t sleep and was struggling after an accident in which he hit a preschool boy while driving. He wasn’t at fault as the preschool boy had darted in front of his vehicle. Nonetheless, he was overcome with grief.

Dominik Valentin, dressed as Spider-Man, left, and Jason Kolokithas, dressed as WWII-era Captain America, right, interact with kids during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing.(Photo11: Nick King/Lansing State Journal)

Smith started visiting the child in the hospital, wearing a flimsy Halloween Batman costume because the child liked Batman.

Smith, 44, said he already loved cosplay. "With the accident, it gave the things I loved a new purpose. It gave me a reason to put on the suit so he could meet a superhero he liked," he said.

The boy survived, he said, and enjoyed his Batman visits but the family wanted to put the accident behind them so he is no longer in contact.

Later, he worked on a fundraiser for a teen with a terminal illness in Tennessee who also loved Batman. That’s when he connected with a Hollywood stuntman who helped him assemble pieces of his Batman costume from professional costume makers.

Five-year-old Vincent Gentile wears a Batman mask during his birthday party on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer.(Photo11: Nick King/Lansing State Journal)

He’s modified it, adding his own handmade pieces.

A year ago, he met Brittney Billinghurst, 23, also from Rives Junction. Her inspiration for helping kids by dressing in costumes took off in 2016 when she visited Zack Eagan, a terminally ill boy from Jackson. She dressed as Cat Woman.

Jessicah Zink, Zack's mom, said the face of her dying 6-year-old "lit up" when Cat Woman and her friends walked in and he wiggled in delight.

"The fact that they made him do that, that meant the world to me," she said.

Up until the day he died from a degenerative neuromuscular disease, Zack called Cat Woman his girlfriend, the child's mother recalled.

Vincent, the birthday boy, connected with the cosplayers when he and his family attended several events featuring Lansing Batman.

Members of the League of Enchantment interact with children during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing.(Photo11: Nick King/Lansing State Journal)

“He’s become our mascot in a way. He shows up at a lot of our events,” Smith said. “He’s an honorary member of the League.”

Vincent's party was held last weekend at District5 Extreme Air Sports, an indoor trampoline park on Lansing’s west side.

Several other birthday parties were underway in addition to Vincent’s, but his was hard to top. Heads swiveled as a parade of superheroes marched out among dozens of kids jumping on trampolines, climbing walls and frolicking in pits filled with foam cubes.

Birthday parties aren't among the usual events, but this one was special.

At Vincent's party, kids clamored to get their photos taken with their heroes. Katie Whittaker of DeWitt, a 6-foot, 4-inch Capital City Wonder Woman when she's sporting 3-inch heels, was particularly popular.

Whittaker said she was teased about her height as a child and she likes talking to kids about how to deal with bullying. With cosplay, you don't just wear a costume, you become the character, she explains.

Vincent, wearing a lime green T-shirt with a Batman logo, jousted with Spider-Man on a bridge with padded bats (Spider-Man won but lost the rematch). He also walked a tightrope over a pit and joined other kids throwing foam bricks.

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League of Enchantment president Shamus Smith gets dressed as Lansing Batman in a private room before a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

League of Enchantment president Shamus Smith gets dressed as Lansing Batman in a private room before a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

At right, Katie Whittaker of DeWitt, dressed as Capital City Wonder Woman, signs a birthday card for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile while she and other members of the League of Enchantment prepare to surprise Vincent during his birthday party on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Shamus Smith, dressed as Lansing Batman, holds on to a birthday card for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile during his party on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Dressed as Lansing Batman, Shamus Smith, right, goes over the details of Vincent Gentile's birthday party with Vincent's mother Christine on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended Vincent's birthday. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Members of the League of Enchantment interact with children during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Shamus Smith, dressed as Lansing Batman, looks on during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Dominik Valentin, dressed as Spider-Man, left, and Jason Kolokithas, dressed as WWII-era Captain America, right, interact with kids during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Vincent Gentile, 5, right, challenges Spider-Man to a duel on a beam during his birthday party on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended Gentile's birthday. Gentile is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Vincent Gentile, 5, throws foam blocks at Spiderman during his birthday party on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Shamus Smith, dressed as Lansing Batman, looks on during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Vincent Gentile, 5, celebrates after knocking Spider-Man off of a beam during his birthday party on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended Gentile's birthday. Gentile is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Katie Whittaker of DeWitt, dressed as Capital City Wonder Woman, center, and Shamus Smith, right, dressed as Lansing Batman, interact with Rose Mitchell, 3, during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Shamus Smith, dressed as Lansing Batman, center, fist bumps Paxton Owens, right, while his friend Chazz Williams looks on during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Dominik Valentin, dressed as Spider-Man, climbs a wall as Vincent Gentile crawls through the foam below during Gentile's 5th birthday party on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Five-year-old Vincent Gentile, left, talks with Katie Whittaker, dressed as Capital City Wonder Woman, during a birthday party for Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Shamus Smith, dressed as Lansing Batman, looks on during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Members of the League of Enchantment stand by while kids eat pizza during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. The boy is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Five-year-old Vincent Gentile wears a Batman mask during his birthday party on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Shamus Smith, dressed as Lansing Batman, left, holds 5-year-old Vincent Gentile while guests sing him happy birthday during his birthday party on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing. Members of the League of Enchantment dressed as superheroes and attended the boy's birthday party. He is recovering from retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

You wouldn’t know that the energetic boy, the middle of three children, spent a year as an outpatient at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan. He had five surgeries and six months of chemotherapy.

His left eye was removed and he was fitted with a prosthetic eye. The surgery and chemotherapy have been successful. No problems were found on a recent scan and his mother said the family has reason to hope that he will stay cancer free.

For his birthday, Vincent asked for money instead of gifts so that the League of Enchantment could buy toys and books for kids they visit at Mott, where Vincent was treated. The League members began visiting kids there in January. Vincent's party raised about $400.

Smith (Lansing Batman) said the requests for appearances are starting to multiply from schools and nonprofits that work to prevent suicide and child abuse and fight cancer. They range from a few to a dozen per month.

“We have enough people in the group. Hopefully, we can keep it going," Smith said.

He said it's taking off faster than he thought.

Shamus Smith, dressed as Lansing Batman, center, fist bumps Paxton Owens, right, while his friend Chazz Williams looks on during a birthday party for 5-year-old Vincent Gentile on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the District5 Extreme Air Sports trampoline park in Lansing.(Photo11: Nick King/Lansing State Journal)

"Obviously, there's a huge need for this. People need it," he said

Christina Gentile, Vincent’s mom, is a fan.

“This is awesome that they do this. This is exactly what a kid needs," she said.